Prenatal Development

Conception (Day 1): Life begins when the sperm fertilizes the egg in the woman’s uterus. This can happen within a half hour after sexual intercourse. This new human life is totally unique and has his/her own genetic code. The first cell divides in two. Each of these new cells divides again and again as they travel toward the womb for a PROTECTED place to grow.

Days 1-6 (when some people think it is safe to take a “morning after pill”): The fertilized egg is dividing and growing. Since conception begins at fertilization, human life is already in motion and any steps taken to “stop implantation” is indeed an abortion, the taking of a human’s life.

Days 6-14: The new individual attaches loosely to the wall of the womb, then burrows deeply and attaches securely to it over the next week. Mother’s menstrual period is suppressed by this hormone (hCG) which is produced by her child.

Days 17-20: Blood vessels begin to form. The foundations of the brain, spinal cord, and nervous system are laid. The future sex cells that will give rise to sperm or eggs in this individual are already laid!

Day 21: The heart begins to beat!

Days 26-28: The eyes begin to develop. The lungs form. The earliest stages of the ear are present.

Days 28-32: Two tiny arms make their appearance and budding legs follow two days later. The beginnings of the mouth take shape. The nose starts to develop. The thyroid gland begins to grow. Blood, separate from the mother’s, flows in the baby’s veins. The face appears and the tongue begins to form.

Day 36: The baby’s eyes develop their first colour in the retina.

Day 42: The baby develops nerve connections that will lead to a sense of smell. The brain is now divided into three parts–one to experience emotion and understand language, one for hearing and one for seeing. Joints begin to form. Mother now misses second period.

Day 44: Buds of milk teeth appear. Facial muscles develop. Eyelids begin to form, protecting the developing eyes. Internal organs are present, but immature. 99% of muscles are present; each with its own nerve supply.

Day 52: Spontaneous movement begins. The baby develops a whole collection of moves: frowning, hiccuping, squinting, furrowing the brow, pursing the lips, yawning, burping, sucking, stretching and so many others.

8 weeks: The baby is now well-proportioned, and about the size of a thumb. Every organ is present. The liver is making blood, the kidneys function, the heart beats steadily. The skull, elbows and knees are forming. Of the 4,500 structures in the adult body, 4,000 are already present. The skeleton of the arms, legs, and spine begins to stiffen as bone cells are added.

10 weeks: Fingerprints begin their 7 week long formation. The fingernails begin to develop. The number of connections between nerves and muscles has tripled since last week.

11 weeks: The baby now “practices” breathing. The baby urinates. Her/his stomach muscles can contract. Vocal chords and taste buds form. The baby can make complex facial expressions and even smile.

4 months: The baby may suck his/her thumb, turn somersaults and has a firm grip. The baby can feel pain. (some American states have proposed a ban on abortion after 20 weeks because of this scientific fact that babies feel pain at this stage)

5 months: The testes descends in boys. Mom may feel the baby kick, turn or hiccup and may be able to identify a bulge as an elbow or a head. Each side of the brain has a billion nerve cells now.

6 months: The baby can hear and react to noises. The child sleeps and wakes, nestling in favourite positions to sleep and stretches when waking up. The baby even dreams!

*Baby Samuel was a 21 weeks old baby in the womb who had an operation. His fingers curled around the doctor’s finger.**

Related links are:

www.Abortionclinics.ca ( to view a 4D presentation of life in the womb and several other amazing videos of human life!)

The images below is from onlineforlife.org which is an organization from the US but note how there is a law permitting abortion up to 9 months in 9 states. One can have an abortion in Canada as well up to 9 months.